India Abstains On Resolution Calling For Emergency UNGA Session On Ukraine
Mobilenews24x7 Bureau
United Nations/New Delhi, Feb 27: India on Sunday abstained on a vote to call an emergency UN General Assembly session on Ukraine, even as it welcomed the announcement by Moscow and Kyiv to hold talks at the Belarus border. India, along with the UAE and China, abstained, while Russia voted against the resolution. In the 15-member UNSC, 11 members voted for the resolution, making it eligible for the matter to be referred to the UNGA for a special emergency session.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti, in India’s explanation of vote, said that “it is regrettable that the situation in Ukraine has worsened further since the UNSC last convened” on February 25. India reiterated its call for immediate cessation of violence and an end to all hostilities. “There is no other choice but to return back to the path of diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.
He said that PM Modi “has advocated this strongly in his recent conversations with the leadership of the Russian Federation and Ukraine”, referring to the telephonic conversations with President Putin and President Zelenskyy.
“In this regard, we welcome today’s announcement by both sides to hold talks at the Belarus border. “The global order is anchored on international law, UN charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states.” “We are all agreed on these principles.”
He said that India is “deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals, including a large number of Indian students, who are still stranded in Ukraine”. He said India’s evacuation efforts “have been adversely impacted by the complex and uncertain situation at the border crossings”, referring to the chaos at the border crossing in Lviv with Poland, where hundreds of Indian students have been stuck for several hours.
“It is important to maintain an uninterrupted and predictable movement of people”. “It is an urgent humanitarian necessity that must be immediately addressed. “Taking into consideration the totality of circumstances we decided to abstain,” he said.
